No. 86.
Mr. Morton
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Paris, January 3, 1884.
(Received January 18.)
No. 466.]
Sir: On the 26th ultimo (dispatch 464), I informed
the Department of the resolution voted by the Chamber of Deputies, a few
days before, expressing the desire that the free admission of American pork
be again suspended, and of the action the Government felt compelled to take
in consequence of this vote.
When my dispatch was forwarded (Friday, the 28th), I had not seen the text of
the new prohibitory decree, which was only issued on the following day, but
my telegram of the same evening, of which a copy is herewith inclosed, gave
you its substance. I have the honor of sending to-day a copy and translation
of the decree, and of a report of the minister of commerce to the President,
explaining his motives.
At the President’s reception on New Year’s day I had occasion of recurring
again to this subject with the president of the council and the minister of
commerce, and I am glad to say that both seem as desirous as I am of
securing the permanent removal of any obstruction to the [Page 133] importation in France of American pork. I
remarked to Mr. Ferry that I had not failed to inform you of his sincere
desire to comply with my requests in the matter, and that I was in receipt
of a dispatch expressing your appreciation of his friendly language and
course, and instructing me to convey to him the satisfaction felt by the
Government of the United States with his action, which I intended to do in a
more formal manner. “This action of ours,” said Mr. Ferry, “is not over; we
do not intend to leave the matter as it now stands; we are collecting facts
and scientific opinions which are of such weight that they cannot fail to
impress favorably the Chamber.” Mr. Herisson confirmed this statement.
It cannot be doubted that there exists in the public mind a strong-prejudice
against American pork, a prejudice which has been unfortunately to some
extent created or aggravated by certain American newspaper articles of which
the French protectionists adroitly took advantage. It was in reference to a
statement made upon the authority of an American scientist that I
telegraphed you to ascertain the correctness of those attributed to Dr.
Dettmar. Your answer furnished me with valuable information, the insertion
of which I procured in all the leading French as well as in other
papers.
Your cipher dispatch of the 27th ultimo, expressing your satisfaction with my
diligence in the matter, and the hope that energetic efforts would be
continued to secure the permanent repeal of the prohibition, was duly
received. I highly appreciate the expression of approval, and shall spare no
exertion to second your efforts in this matter so important to our
commerce.
I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of a note addressed to Mr. Ferry,
on the 2d instant, of the telegrams above mentioned, and of the one given to
the press.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 466.—Decree published
in Journal Officiel.—Translation.]
decree.
The President of the French Republic, upon the report of the minister of
commerce, decrees:
Article 1. The execution of the decree of
November 27, 1883, is adjourned; is in consequence suspended until such
time as provision is made by a law upon the introduction of pork into
France, the importation of the said salted meat coming from the United
States of America.
Art. 2. Nevertheless, for contracts already
made, this meat can be admitted exceptionally until the 20th of January,
1884, by the ports of Havre, Bordeaux, and Marseilles, and upon the
condition that it shall be stated that it answers to the description
known in commerce under the name of “fully
cured”; that it is healthy, that it is in a perfect state of
preservation, and that the curing is complete.
This statement shall be made by experts specially appointed by the
prefects.
The importers must declare before any discharge that they consent to pay
the costs that the inspection of the experts may entail.
The maximum of the tariff of these costs shall be fixed by the chambers
of commerce.
Art. 3. The ministers of commerce and finance
are charged, each one in so far as he may be concerned, with the
execution of the present decree.
Done at Paris, December 28,
1883.
JULES GRÉVY.
By the President of the Republic.
The minister of
commerce,
Ch. Herisson.
[Page 134]
[Inclosure 2 in No.
466.—Translation.]
Mr. Herisson’s
report to the President of the
Republic.
Monsieur le President: On the 27th November
last I had the honor to submit for your signature a decree repealing
that of the 18th February, 1881, which prohibited on the territory of
the Republic the importation of salted pork coming from the United
States. This measure was grounded upon the opinion of the Academy of
Medicine and upon the decision of the consultative committee of public
health of France, specially appointed to deliberate upon the matter.
The Chamber of Deputies, at its sitting on the 22d December, evinced the
desire that the execution of the decree of the 27th November should be
postponed until the discussion of a proposed law, of which it has
already had notice.
The object of the decree annexed herewith is to satisfy this desire in
suspending the importation of American pork.
In order, however, to avoid confusion in commercial transactions, I have
the honor to submit likewise for your high approbation a temporary
measure with the view of conciliating the various interests
involved.
It is as well to recall in this connection that when the decree of the
18th of February, 1881, had for the first time edicted the formal
prohibition of American pork, the importation of the said meat was none
the less, in consequence of the importance of the operations engaged,
authorized until May 20 of the same year, under the reserve of a
microscopical examination.
The measure which I propose to you has been inspired by this
precedent.
The meat can exceptionally enter France until January 20 next by the
three ports of Havre, Bordeaux, and Marseilles, and under certain,
conditions to prove its harmlessness.
This very short period is proof that the measure of favor can only be
really applied to goods at the present time in transit or for which
engagements have been made.
With reference to the guarantees required for the public health, I
thought I could do no better to do away with all fears than reproduce
textually in the decree those which appear in the proposed law voted by
the Chamber on the 28th March, 1882, and which has just been taken up
again an supported before the same assembly by those of its members who
have evinced the least desire for free importation.
It should be stated that the meat answers to the description known in
commerce under the name of “fully cured”; that it
is healthy, in a perfect state of preservation, and that the curing is
complete.
The statements should be made by expert agents, appointed by the
prefects, and the importers should declare, before any discharge, that
they consent to pay the cost that may be incurred by the inspection.
If the advantages of the decree, which I have the honor to propose to
you, appear to you of such, a nature as to advise its adoption, I beg
you, M. le President, to be so good as to affix your signature
thereto.
Receive, M. le President; the assurance of my profound respect.
The minister of commerce,
[Inclosure 3 in No. 466.]
Mr. Morton to Mr.
Ferry.
Legation of the United States,
Paris, January 2,
1884.
Sir: It was an agreeable duty for me to inform
my Government of the friendly manner in which you had received my
earnest representations with regard to the long-standing prohibition of
American pork, and of your liberal action in procuring the repeal of the
obnoxious decree of the 18th February, 1881.
At the New Year’s reception, at the Elysée, I intimated to you that I was
in receipt of a dispatch from Mr. Frelinghuysen, in which he requested
me to express to you his appreciation of your course in the matter,
which I now take pleasure in doing more fully than I could
yesterday.
“I have to request you,” says Mr. Frelinghuysen, “to convey to the
minister of foreign affairs the expression of the very great
satisfaction which the liberal and enlightened course of the French
authorities in reference to this matter, based upon thorough scientific
investigation, has afforded this Government.”
It is the hope of my Government, and my own, that this liberal action of
your excellency will be continued, and that you will be able to bring
about a permanent and satisfactory settlement of this question, which
has been so unexpectedly and so unfortunately reopened by the resolution
of Mr. Paul Bert.
I avail, &c.,
[Page 135]
[Inclosure 4 in No. 466.—Extract from the
Paris Morning News.]
We have received the following dispatch:
Washington, December 30,
1883.—The Secretary of State has telegraphed to the American minister at
Paris, that a competent expert, Mr. Curtis, appointed by the Department
of Agriculture to make an investigation as to trichinosis, reports
officially that no disease exists among American hogs.
At a meeting of the Association of Western Swine-breeders it was
unanimously resolved that in the five great producing States, Ohio,
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, no disease whatever existed
among swine.
The discrimination of the French authorities against American pork is,
therefore, made directly in the face of the evidence. A competent
expert, appointed by the United States Government, reports that the
disease, against which the prohibitive French legislation was directed,
does not exist. As the object of such legislation is not to prohibit the
pork itself, there appears to be, under the circumstances, no good
reason for its continued existence.
